I. Core Industry Data (Jan–July; Source: CITA / China Economic Net)
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- Total national forklift sales reached 1,009,800 units (+17.7% year-on-year). Domestic sales accounted for 629,000 units (+15.3%), while exports totaled 380,500 units (+22%). Export growth significantly outpaced domestic sales, with many manufacturers reporting order backlogs extending into Q4.
- Electric forklifts continue to see rapid growth, driven primarily by lithium-ion models. Electrification is expanding beyond small warehouse forklifts to include medium-to-large tonnage counterbalanced trucks and heavy-duty port forklifts.
- Export composition: Electric forklifts make up a large share of exports, with Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America serving as key markets. Domestic lithium-ion forklifts are capturing the overseas replacement market for internal combustion (IC) forklifts, leveraging supply chain advantages.
II. Intelligent Technology (Unmanned Forklifts: AGVs/AMRs)
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- Domestic market penetration for unmanned forklifts is currently only around 2%, placing the sector in the early adoption phase. Despite high investor interest, challenges such as implementation costs and the difficulty of on-site integration remain significant pain points.
- Overseas: Hyundai Wia announced in September the delivery of 4-ton class unmanned forklifts to Kia’s Hwaseong plant, with production scheduled to begin in May 2027. The system supports fully automated vehicle loading and unloading and utilizes LiDAR, vision systems, and digital twin-based path planning; it represents South Korea's first end-to-end unmanned loading/unloading forklift solution.
- Industry Risk Alert: The US is planning to establish new market access barriers for industrial mobile robots (including unmanned forklifts), creating compliance challenges for domestic manufacturers expanding overseas.
III. Policy and Safety
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- Zhejiang Forklift Safety Reform (National Pilot): Targeting specialized equipment used within facilities, this initiative integrates digital oversight across registration, inspection, operator certification, maintenance, and decommissioning—shifting from isolated safety checks to full lifecycle management. Pilot programs are underway in Jinhua and Lin'an, with potential for nationwide rollout.
- National Standard Updates: The draft national standard for visibility testing on high-tonnage, sit-down counterbalanced forklifts has passed review, raising safety design standards for heavy-duty forklifts.
- Accident Case Study: The investigation report on the fatal forklift rollover in Pingshan, Shenzhen (May 23 incident) was released in September. Causes included night operations without lights, the operator failing to wear a seatbelt, and inadequate safety barriers on factory ramps. The company's management faced administrative penalties, underscoring the need for stricter forklift safety management within factory premises.
IV. Summary of Industry Trends
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- Deepening Electrification: Lithium-ion batteries are replacing lead-acid and internal combustion engines; high-tonnage lithium-ion forklifts represent the year's most significant technological highlight; battery-swapping forklifts are gaining popularity in multi-shift rental scenarios, while hydrogen fuel cell forklifts are undergoing pilot testing at ports.
- Global Expansion Upgrade: A shift from merely selling equipment to establishing overseas CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly plants and localized after-sales services; Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America are key growth markets.
- Shift in Competitive Dynamics: Hardware price wars are gradually subsiding, giving way to a focus on comprehensive solutions involving intelligent scheduling and unmanned material handling.Scan the code to get the forklift product catalog
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